Unit 24: I Expected It To... But (-(으)련만)

This is a very advanced, poetic, or literary expression. It is short for -(으)리라고 생각하지만 (I think it will be... but). In Easy Korean, -(으)련만 is used to express a regret or disappointment that a logical expectation or hope did not come true.

Structure

Verb / Adjective Stem + -(으)련만 (Can be used with past tense: -았/었/였으련만)

• 오다 -> 오련만 (They should be coming, but...)
• 알다 -> 알련만 (They ought to know, but...)
• 좋았다 -> 좋았으련만 (It would have been good, but...)

Usage

It shows a contrast between how things should logically be (or how you wish they were) and the disappointing reality.

Examples

• 약을 먹었으면 나았으련만, 안 먹어서 더 아프네요. (If you had taken the medicine, you should have gotten better, but you didn't so it hurts more.)
• 지금쯤이면 도착했으련만, 아직 연락이 없어요. (They ought to have arrived by now, but there's still no contact.)
• 도와주면 좋으련만, 아무도 안 도와주네요. (It would be nice if someone helped, but no one is helping.)